Program Areas

The IGI’s research efforts are focused on four key program areas: biomedicine, agriculture, microbiomes, and society. The interdisciplinary nature of our projects, our collaborative atmosphere, and the immutable interconnectedness of humans, animals, plants, and microbes means that discoveries in one research area will often inform another. By pursuing fundamental questions in diverse yet intertwined fields, our breakthroughs will improve the health of both humanity and our planet.

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Research Projects

Biomedicine

It is estimated that 5% of babies are born with a genetic disorder. Drugs for such genetic disease treat symptoms only and must be taken for a patient’s entire lifetime, placing a huge burden on our healthcare system. Scientists have known the cause of many genetic disorders for years, but until now there has been no clear way to reverse them. The IGI aims to use the ‘molecular scalpel’ Cas9 to permanently correct disease-causing mutations in cells, animal models, and eventually human patients. Our member labs are actively developing methods to improve the efficiency, accuracy, precision, and delivery of CRISPR editing molecules. We are deliberately focusing on disorders affecting underserved communities and for which treatment options are currently limited. Our disease targets include cardiovascular conditions, hematopoietic diseases, and ocular disorders. Additionally, we employ high-throughput, genome-wide CRISPR screens to unravel disease pathways and identify targets for therapeutic intervention.

Research Projects

Molecular Delivery Systems

Stress Response and Resistance

Advanced Breeding Tools

Agriculture

The world is faced with a surging population and a changing climate. How will we guarantee food security in the coming decades? With the newfound ability to modify plant genomes easily and accurately with CRISPR-Cas9, we have an unprecedented opportunity to improve agriculture. Our global food supply would surge if farmers had access to robust crops that withstand drought, infection, and other devastating conditions. Gene editing will let us grow food crops in a more ecologically sustainable fashion and reduce our reliance on environmentally damaging pesticides. The IGI strives to realize this potential to benefit both the developed and developing world. We are working to make this technology safer and more precise. IGI researchers are creating novel, DNA-free methods for delivering CRISPR-Cas9 components into plant cells. We are also developing advanced plant breeding techniques and ensuring that they become widely accessible to the world community.

Research Projects

Collecting Environmental Genomes

Novel Tool Discovery

Water Remediation

Microbiology

Where will the next transformative molecular biology tools come from? Many antibiotics, enzymes, drugs, and research tools, including CRISPR genome engineering technology, are the repurposed natural products of microbes, discovered through sheer serendipity. Instead of waiting for a lucky breakthrough, we actively seek out new tools and techniques. The IGI gathers genetic information from thousands of previously unknown bacteria and archaea to discover and engineer novel enzymes with superior functions. Advances in DNA sequencing technology over the past decade are providing us with genome sequences from tens of thousands of microorganisms. We are digging into the data to hunt for useful genes and pathways, using a computational approach to find the needles in the haystack. In addition to finding new tools, understanding interactions within microbial populations will help us better manage our environment and inspire new methods of bioremediation.

Society

The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been rapidly adopted by researchers worldwide as a powerful tool for manipulating the genome of any organism. The scientific progress has thus far outpaced the global conversation on how this technology may affect our lives. Humanistic and social science research will allow us to more fully understand its impact. The IGI examines the relationship between genome engineering technology and the economy, public policy, and law. We promote active conversation and social research in an effort to gain a more complete perspective on the ethical implications of rewriting DNA. The complicated interplay between science and society is a fascinating and important area of study that the IGI is beginning to explore more deeply.